The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-02-05

Ohio Company. To plant colony without SOW
ing in II the desire for learning and the fenr Of
God would have been to Cutler and his friends
an impossible omission.
1t was Cutler who did the careful work before
the Congressional Committees that secured the
purchase OF the Ohio Company for tho Directors
and 1t was Cutler who inspired the immortal
clause in the ordinance OF 1887 prohibiting
slavery in the Northwestern Territory.
Rev. Manasseh Cutler was born in Connecti-
cut, May %, 1742. He was n studous boy, and
was graduated from Yale College with high
honor in 17G5. He studied law and practced 1t
for short time but in 1860 began to prepare
for the ministry which he entered in 1771. He
was the pastor Of ono church In Hamilton
Mass, for flfty-two years. He was preacher
of uncommon ability and force. l find writ
ten Of him by contemporary clergyman:
His public discourses were prepared In Gospel
style, but with studied accuracy, argumenta-
tive energy and persuasive pathos. He could
be son Of thunder and son of consolation"
While very young man, DR.. Cutler became
devoted student Of science, and his reputation
was only second to that OF Benjamin Frankin's.
He prepared paper on botany which the Amer
ican Society OF Arts and Sciences published In
their memoirs, and which DR.. Franklin himself
had republished in the Columbian Mdgd:ine Of
Philadelphia. Soon after the beginning Of tho
revolutionary war DR.. Cutler became also q
prncticing physician. The regular physician Of
the town had gone with the armies, and DIR.
Cutler filled his place, and won distinction Us
doctor OF medicine.
A great many degrees and honors were con-
ferred upon DR.. Cutler OF q civic and literary
nature. His acquaintance was vast and valua-
ble for he served two years as a chaplain In tho
Continental armies, and became personally
known to most of the distinguished officers, and
was on the best Of terms with the foremost mon
OF his day.
When a number OF his old army friends organ
lied the Ohio Company for the purpose OF plant
ing colony In the West, he was heartily In SYM
pathy with their aims and efforts. Elected
director Of the company, he was soon appointed
its agent to negotiate for the purchase of lands
from Congress. In June, 1857, he went to New
York upon his mission, where he not only made
the purchase, as we know, on the best Of terms,
but he succeeded, by the exercise OF his mag
nitcent talents, In incorporating into the Or
ganic law OF the whole Northwest Territory the
law of his own State. He prevented the extern
sion OF slavery and provided for the free school
system that has been the blessing and safeguard
OF the West and Of the Nation.
DR.. Cutler left o valuable journal, which IL Is
hoped may some day be given to the public.
While his negotiations were pending with Con-
gress, he visited Benjamin Franklin, and his
description of the old philosopher Parton says,
is the best account Of the sort written at the
time. In the summer Of 17SS DR.. Cutler visited
Marietta to attend q meeting of the Directors
OF the Ohio Company. He left Hamilton in
sulky July 81, and reached tho mouth OF the
Musknsum August 10. He was present ut the
opening OF the first court held In the Terri
tory, and preached several times. He thought
ut one time OF moving his family to Marietta,
but afterward found that he could not do 80.
Shortly after the defeat Of tho Indians by
Wayne, President Washington offered to ap-
point DR.. Cutler Judge OF the Supreme Court
in tho Territory, but he declined the commits
n Tp "a
gross, and was reelected in 1902. His own peo-
pie held him in high esteem, and regarded him
as man OF uncommon ability. He was y Fed
ernlist in politics. DR.. Cutler was not one Of
the pioneers himself but two Of his sons were
among the early settlers. DR.. Cutler was man
OF fine personal appearance. He was above the
common stature, and had an erect, dignifled
carriage. His complexion was light and he had
eyes Of engaging ciearness and brightness. "His
manners were gentlemanly, his conversation
easy and intelligent, his mental endowments
high" He died July 2S, 1923, aged eighty.one
years.
In discourse nfter his death, by BENJAMIN
Wndsworth, D. D., 1t was said: "All who en-
joyed the privilege Of an acquaintance with Rev.
DR.. Cutler knew that nature had been liberal OF
her gifts, enriching an elegant form with pom
etrating and enterprising mind, capacitated for
literary and scientific attainments, and with tai
entS formed tn shine on the public stage OF life
early litcrati."
The first person who was regularly engaged In
the mercantile business In the Northwest Terri
tory was Dudley Woodbridge, Esq, the grand
| father OF Hon. Geo. M. Woodbridge, OF Marietta.
David Woodbridge was from Connecticut and
was descended from the first graduate OF Har-.
ward College. His grandson devoted much time
to the study OF early history and has all OF the
books and papers OF Dudley Woodbridge. Ho
Is also tho posscssor OF moro fresh and accurate
Information concerning the Blennerhassetts thun
any one now living, and probably has the only
authentic likeness OF Mrs. Blennerhassett in ex-
istence.
A few weeks ago Mr.. Woodbridge discovered
the old wcll that was within old Fort Harmar.
An old bucket, pewter plate and two scalping
knives were found ut the bottom OF the WELL
In talking OF the early merchants, Mr., Wood
bridge said: ~ find that the earliest merchants
were Dudley Woodbridge, Sr., Charles Green, Il.
J. Meigs, Joseph Lincoln, Abner Lord Benz. l.
Gilman, Dudley Woodbridge, Jr., VIM. Skinner,
Herman Blennerhassett.
"Where did tho merchants buy their goodsg"
"Chiefy east OF the mountains. have In my
possession the original invoices OF the first store
goods ever brought 10 Ohio. The accounts were
expressed In pounds, shillings and pence; the
articles most In demand were powder, shot,
lead, iints, tobacco, rum, whisky, fshhooks,
shoes, wool hats, spinning wheels, irons, crock.
| cry, nails, glass, ten, snun. Goods were carted
| and conveyed by post horses 10 the Upper Ohio
river, thence by boat to tho mouth OF the Mus.
kingum. The trips often took months"
] WHISKY waA much IN demand. and svery'